Ever since the publisher’s debut in 1961, Marvel Comics has built one of the most intricate and interesting superhero universes of all time. Marvel has created some of the most beloved heroes and most fearsome villains in the comic book industry, and their continued expansion into the cinematic sphere, namely through the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has helped bring several of these fan-favorite characters to life. However, with each new film release, there have been a number of surprising omissions, with several popular characters still relegated to the pages of the comics.
Some of the most surprising omissions have involved Marvel’s rogues gallery. The publisher is responsible for some of the best villains in the medium, but a more recent push to include more obscure characters has meant that fewer iconic villains have leapt off the comic book page. This list focuses on 20 of those villainous powerhouses, covering characters across the supernatural, cosmic, and street-level realms. While not all of these villains are set to be the next Kang or Thanos, each has the potential to rock the foundations of the MCU, pushing the heroes to their absolute limit with their immense power.
21 The Hood
Parker Robbins grew up surrounded by crime. His father was a close associate with the Kingpin, and after his death and his mother’s hospitalization, Parker had to turn to petty theft to make ends meet. On one job, he was attacked by a Nisanti demon in a warehouse, forcing him to kill the creature.
Stealing its cloak and boots, Parker discovered that they had mystical enchantments attached to them. Taking the name “the Hood,” Parker rose through the criminal underworld, using his newfound knowledge of magic and other mysterious artifacts to form his own criminal empire, recruiting several other villains to stand against the New Avengers.
The Hood Deserves His Shot at the Heroes of the MCU
The Hood is likely the least well-known name on this list, as he has gone criminally underused. Despite this, he is a perfect candidate for the MCU. He is a brilliant mix of street-level and supernatural storytelling, blending gangland criminality with mystical supervillainy. He even once became a cosmic-level threat when he gained access to the Infinity Gauntlet, making him the most powerful gang boss in the Marvel multiverse. Even without the Gauntlet or access to the immensely powerful Norn Stones, though, Parker still leads one of the biggest gangs of superpowered criminals in the universe, making him an incredibly potent threat to any super team.
20 Arcade
Debuting in 1978, Arcade is one of the most mysterious villains in the Marvel Universe. His real name is unknown, as is his background. All anyone truly knows about the crazed villain is his love and obsession for games, adding a theme park spin to supervillainy. Building various “Murderworlds,” depraved funhouses filled with deadly traps, Arcade lures in heroes to play his twisted games. Most often, they break free with no real effort. Inspired by a YA novel, though, Arcade decided to shift his attention to the younger generation of heroes, building a new Murderworld where he could watch his young captives battle to the death.
Arcade Has Only Recently Become One of Marvel’s Deadliest Foes
Calling Arcade one of the most powerful villains in the Marvel Universe feels like a joke. With that said, there are two major factors that earn Arcade a spot here. The first is Murderworld, which could easily translate into one of the MCU’s deadliest narrative set pieces (maybe with some notable allusions to parent company Disney’s famed theme parks).
The second is his role in Avengers Arena, where technology has essentially given him god-like abilities while within Murderworld. This may simply be my appeal for Marvel to bring Avengers Arena to the big or small screen, but Arcade still has plenty of potential as the next MCU villain.
19 Ares
The Marvel Universe has put its own spin on world mythology from the very beginning, with Thor and Hercules introducing readers to Norse and Greek mythology respectively. However, for every hero in mythology, there is a matching villain, and Ares is one of the deadliest mythology-based supervillains in the game.
Ares felt like an outcast among the Olympians due to modern views of war, especially resenting Hercules for his continued popularity among mortals. After attempting to overthrow Olympus, Ares was exiled to Earth where he attempted to use his lust for battle and immense strength to take destroy his half-brother and his allies, the Avengers.
Ares Could Provide the MCU a Thrilling New Perspective on Mythology
Ares plays a unique role in the Marvel Universe, balancing his time as a villain with a brief foray into antiheroism. During the Dark Reign event, he even served as the Thor counterpart on Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers. Thor: Love and Thunder helped introduce the full scale of the godly realms, meaning that the door is flung open for this Greek deity to make his big screen debut. Of course, this would require a far more serious tone than the one presented in Love and Thunder, but with the right director behind the character, Ares could be one of the most interesting villains-turned-antiheroes in the MCU.
18 Morgan Le Fay
Created by Stan Lee in 1955 for Marvel’s predecessor, Atlas Comics, before making her Marvel debut in 1978, Morgan Le Fay is one of Marvel’s strongest spell casters. Hailing from the sixth century, Morgan is high priestess of the Darkhold, a powerful book of magic connected to the dark deity Chthon. After the book is stolen from her, Morgan makes several trips into the future to attempt to reacquire it, facing off against modern heroes in savage magical combat. Most recently, she has even managed to conquer her half brother Arthur’s kingdom, which had been transported to the realm known as Otherworld by Merlyn.
Morgan Le Fay Would Provide a New Mystical Threat to the Avengers
Technically speaking, Morgan Le Fay has already made her live-action debut, playing the main villain of The Runaways’ second season. However, given the uncertain place of the Hulu original series in the MCU, it is safe to say that Morgan Le Fay still needs her MCU debut.
She is one of the most powerful mages in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and her connection to Black Knight and Captain Britain (and by extension, the X-Man Psylocke) makes her a necessary addition to the future of the MCU. There is so much potential in this master of magic, and her ties to British folklore help set her apart from other villains in the franchise.
17 Hyperion and the Squadron Sinister
The Squadron Sinister originally appeared in The Avengers in 1969 as champions of the Grandmaster in his battle against Kang the Conqueror and the Avengers. Modeled after the Squadron Supreme of Earth-712, a powerful team of heroes, these false champions included Hyperion, Doctor Spectrum, Nighthawk, and the Whizzer, parallels to Superman, Green Lantern, Batman, and the Flash.
As time passed, Nighthawk became a recurring hero, battling his former villainous allies alongside the Defenders. While Hyperion and the rest have also transitioned to heroes in recent years, universal events like Secret Wars have seen them return to their villainous roots.
The Squadron Sinister Could Give Us the Marvel/DC Fight We’ve All Been Waiting For
Given that we will likely never see a true cinematic Marvel/DC crossover, fans will just have to settle for the Squadron Sinister. They are intended as the perfect analogue to DC’s Justice League, and their initial role as villains is a brilliant examination of the two companies’ battle for supremacy.
What gives them even more potential is their eventual role as heroes, with the Squadron Supreme working alongside the Avengers on a number of occasions. In more recent years, the Squadron played a major role in Heroes Reborn, where reality was altered to make them the world’s only superhero team, which could act as a brilliant inspiration for an MCU event.
16 Fin Fang Foom
Fin Fang Foom isn’t a dragon, despite all appearances. He is a member of an alien species from Kakaranathara who arrived in ancient China and inspired their depictions of dragons. While his fellows would go on to take human forms and influence Chinese politics for centuries, Fin Fang Foom, their navigator, was placed in a catatonic state deep inside a tomb. Upon awakening in the modern day, the Makluan beast begins an epic rampage across China, drawing the attention of the world’s heroes, and while he has attempted to reform over the years, Fin Fang Foom is still regarded as one of Marvel’s most terrifying villains.
Fin Fang Foom Could Be a New Breed of Villain for the MCU
To put it simply, Marvel’s classic monsters need better representation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While many have slowly fallen out of fashion in modern comics, they are still some of the most beloved characters in the franchise, so enough with the humanoid villains! Give us Marvel kaiju!
Yes, the budget for a film starring Fin Fang Foom could be astronomical, but so is the budget for every MCU film. The time has come for writers and directors to dig into the long history of this vast universe and bring forth some of the more unique villains in its repertoire to give viewers a new type of story in this universe.
15 The Inheritors
Throughout the multiverse, totems exist as representations of powerful supernatural aspects. Among these, the Spider-Totems are some of the most powerful due to their connection to the Web of Life and Destiny, but that power has only drawn the attention of the Inheritors.
This family of multiversal vampires has conquered Earth-001, and using the Web, they have begun a campaign across the dimensions in order to consume the life force of Spider-Totems. In the Spider-Verse crossover event, Peter Parker of Earth-616 is forced to gather an army of spiders from across the multiverse to confront the Inheritors and stop the destruction of the Web.
The Inheritors Have the Opportunity to Be the Next Multiversal Threat
Given the massive popularity of the animated Spider-Verse films and Peter Parker’s key role in introducing MCU viewers to the multiverse, it’s a surprise that Morlun nor the other Inheritors have made their cinematic debut. True, a live-action Spider-Verse movie might not work, given the vast number of moving parts at play, but that doesn’t mean that the Inheritors can’t play a key role in the future of the MCU.
After all, with the films and series exploring new corners of the multiverse, we need a new breed of villain, a multiversal threat to outclass all the villains that came before. The Inheritors could provide just that.
14 Magus
Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have recently been introduced to Adam Warlock, one of Marvel’s strongest cosmic heroes. Many likely don’t know about Warlock’s evil half, Magus. Three versions of the villain exist, with two representing possible futures for the powerful hero. However, the third was born due to the Infinity Gauntlet.
In order to use the gauntlet impartially, Warlock attempts to rid himself of the good and evil inside his soul, but this results in him splitting into two corporeal forms. Warlock was forced to gather the Infinity Watch in order to defeat his evil twin and stop him from using the Gauntlet to destroy the universe.
Magus’ Debut Could Be Just Around the Corner
Marvel likes its split-personality heroes, with Sentry being another example of a hero with a far darker half. It provides some unique narrative opportunities, giving writers the chance to explore the dichotomy of these characters while also pitting literal equals against each other. The battles between Magus and Warlock tend to be universe-shattering, leading to some epic visuals.
While the Infinity Gauntlet is largely out of play in the MCU, Warlock’s presence does provide the opportunity to bring Magus into the universe. Who knows? Maybe the next big bad isn’t Doctor Doom or Kang. Maybe Magus is simply biding his time in the shadows, waiting to strike.
13 Mangog
Mangog represents rage. He is created by the gathered hatred and fury of a destroyed alien species, invaders of Asgard decimated by Odin’s power. Locked beneath Asgard, Mangog was first freed in Thor #154 in 1968, and with his devastating power, he rampaged through Asgard in an effort to draw the Odinsword from its scabbard, an act which would destroy the universe.
Though the magic allowing Mangog to exist has been dispelled on a number of occasions, the beast has returned time and time again with the same goal in mind, most recently facing off against Jane Foster’s version of Thor in her final battle.
The MCU Needs a Mindless Beast Like Mangog
Mangog needs to be in the MCU. Is there anything deep to his character? Not at all. He’s a rampaging monster solely bent on destruction. However, the MCU has plenty of well-rounded villains, characters with interesting backstories and relatable motives. Sometimes, we just need a being of pure evil to threaten the heroes.
Mangog could easily be that, and given his role in the end of Jane Foster’s saga as Thor, he has proven himself to be capable of epic brutality. Thor has largely been forgotten after the release of Love and Thunder. Now is the perfect time to bring him back with this vicious villain.
12 Korvac
Living in the year 3007 AD, Michael Korvac is a traitor to humanity. After the Badoon successfully invaded Earth, Korvac joined their side, but after a mistake at work, he is punished, bonded to a powerful supercomputer. Now a cyborg, the Grandmaster plucks him from his time and uses him to battle the Defenders.
Using a portion of the Elder’s power, Korvac travels through time. Stealing the Power Cosmic from Galactus, Korvac develops god-like abilities, restoring his original human form and seeking to transform Earth into a utopia by any means necessary, forcing the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy to join forces to hunt him down.
Korvac’s Absence from the MCU is Still a Mystery
It’s legitimately surprising that Marvel has yet to adapt the Korvac Saga for the MCU. It is one of the company’s first major crossovers, bringing together the Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers. Given its importance to the company, you’d think Korvac would have at least seen a mention somewhere in the MCU, even as a reference for eagle-eyed fans.
While Kang is the next big threat for the franchise, the time has come to bring this incredible villain to life. He wouldn’t need to have some grand, overarching villain arc. Just one or two films focused intently on this cosmic entity’s campaign against the universe, showing off epic scope of his incredible power.
11 Cull The Serpent
People like to say, “All you have to fear is fear itself,” and when you’re facing the Norse god of fear, this statement has never been truer. Cull the Serpent first debuted in 2011’s Fear Itself crossover event. The brother of Odin, uncle to Loki and Thor, Cull was locked away due to his fearsome power. Freed by the Red Skull’s daughter, Cull seeks to regain his power by spreading fear around the globe.
Summoning his own magical hammers, Cull transforms several of the world’s heroes and villains into “the Worthy,” powerful, mindless slaves. With his power restored, he sets his sights on his brother’s kingdom, believing that he deserves the title of All-Father.
Cull the Serpent is Fear Incarnate
Thor has some of the best villains in Marvel Comics, and Cull is but one example. Fear Itself faced quite a bit of controversy upon its release, due to the huge number of spin-off issues, but that doesn’t detract from how incredible this story is. The art by Stuart Immonen is among the best in the medium, and the epic tale does an incredible job exploring Marvel’s version of Norse Mythology.
As the god of fear, Cull is legitimately frightening, and his army of the Worthy alone is one of the biggest threats the universe has seen. We need a Fear Itself adaptation sometime in the near future, plain and simple.
10 Nightmare
First appearing to hound Doctor Strange in Strange Tales #110, Nightmare is the first villain the Sorcerer Supreme ever fought, and his evil presence has only grown since then. The ruler of a Dream Dimension wherein he drains the subconscious energies of sleeping humans by giving them nightmares, this villain wields nearly omnipotent magical power.
As long as people dream, Nightmare can rule unchallenged, allowing him free rein to wander his dimension atop his black skeletal horse. There are times when he’s had to ally with the heroes to save the Dream Dimension, but sometimes, one must perform necessary evils to protect one’s kingdom.
Nightmare is a Strange Omission from the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Fans have been speculating about Nightmare’s role in the MCU for years, especially with the tease of the “Nightmare Department” of the TVA in Loki. This is because Nightmare is such a key player in Marvel’s supernatural realms. Outside of the denizens of Hell, Nightmare is the greatest villain of every mystical hero in the universe.
He was Doctor Strange’s debut enemy after all, making him an integral piece of his lore, and he has since gone on to face Doctor Voodoo, Doctor Druid, Ghost Rider, and every other champion of magic in Marvel Comics. Sadly, the MCU still has yet to bring him into the fold, to the frustrations of long-time readers.
9 Amatsu-Mikaboshi
In Japanese Shintoism, Amatsu-Mikaboshi is a malevolent god who rebelled against his fellow deities. Alongside Thor, Hercules, and other gods of varying traditions, Mikaboshi is also a resident of the Marvel universe. Known as the Chaos King, Mikaboshi lived in the primordial darkness before creation, until Izanagi and Izanami introduced life into his domain.
Raging against them, Mikaboshi was banished to the depths of Yomi, but during Secret Invasion, the gods deemed it necessary to call on his strength. However, Mikaboshi turned against his fellow gods yet again, rallying an army of enslaved alien deities to wage war against the heavens in Chaos War.
Mikaboshi Represents the Darkest Aspects of World Mythology
Surprising no one, we have another Thor and Hercules villain, and Mikaboshi is fascinating. Outside of Norse and Greek myth, Marvel Comics has largely ignored other cultures’ mythologies in its storytelling until recently, and Mikaboshi is just one step toward exploring more of this deific realm.
More than that, this god has shown himself to be immensely powerful, capable of defeating Galactus, the gods of Olympus, and the rulers of Hell, among many others. In the end, the heroes couldn’t even truly defeat him, forced instead to trick him into a pocket dimension where he could feed to his heart’s content.
8 Mephisto
For more than 50 years, Marvel’s Mephisto, based on Mephistopheles of Faust fame and the Christian depiction of the Devil, has tempted, tricked, and harried heroes (and villains) from his seat in Hell. A demon that has existed since the beginning of time, Mephisto is always on the hunt for more power, whether that be through the acquisition of mortal souls or through powerful artifacts like the Infinity Gauntlet.
Commanding an army of demons and wielding incredible magical power (which he used to create his greatest enemy, Ghost Rider), Mephisto is one of the most fearsome enemies that has ever plagued the Marvel Universe.
Fans Have Wanted Mephisto in the MCU from the Very Start
Much like Nightmare, fan speculation around Mephisto has run rampant. With every new MCU reveal, people begin to theorize that Mephisto is on the horizon as the next big threat, and for good reason. Among the most powerful entities within Marvel, Mephisto is an equivalent to Christianity’s depiction of Satan (though Satan is also a Marvel supervillain).
Crafty, vile, mystically potent, this villain has touched the lives of nearly every hero in the universe, so why hasn’t he made his MCU debut? The only explanation is that Marvel Studios has kept the character in the shadows, awaiting a debut that could shake the foundations of the universe unlike any other.
7 Blackheart
Blackheart has a unique place in the Marvel Universe. First appearing in Daredevil in 1989, the character is the “son” of Mephisto, created from the evil energy of a New York town plagued by murder. Attempting to learn the ways of evil from his father, Blackheart is exiled to Earth after failing one of his missions.
He then attempts to besiege his father’s kingdom, forcing several heroes to go along with his plan of taking Hell for himself. Falling back into his father’s good graces, Blackheart has since become one of Mephisto’s front-line soldiers, attempting on several occasions to bring Hell to Earth through various machinations.
Blackheart Would Have an Easier Transition into the MCU
Much like his father, Blackheart hasn’t made an appearance in the MCU, but alongside Mephisto, this villain has made it into a live-action film. The first Nicolas Cage-led Ghost Rider film used Blackheart as the primary villain. If we ever see an MCU live-action Ghost Rider, you can be sure that Blackheart will be there to ruin things for him.
It almost makes more sense for Blackheart to make an appearance. Mephisto is all about trickery, meaning that it is going to take time to set him up as a villain. Blackheart, however, prefers more blatant displays of power, meaning that he could serve well as a debut villain for a new supernatural hero.
6 The Beyonder
Dwelling outside of the Multiverse, the Beyonder race are a species of omnipotent beings created to help the Celestials maintain the multiverse. The being known as The Beyonder is a relatively young member of this species. During an experiment, the Beyonders donated a portion of their power to a human named Owen Reece, giving him incredible power, but it also had the effect of drawing the Beyonder’s attention to Earth-616.
Endlessly curious, this Beyonder took human form and wandered among the peoples of Earth, going so far to trap heroes and villains in Battleworld arenas to better understand the battle between good and evil.
The Beyonder Will Likely Make His MCU Debut Soon
Given that Avengers: Secret Wars is just around the corner, it is only a matter of time before the Beyonder makes his debut. After all, this god-like being is the crux of that original comic book event, and he has made appearances in nearly every reality-altering event since, either as the impetus or an observer.
The Beyonder isn’t really even a villain, though he is far from a hero. He’s simply curious about the ways of the multiverse, and that curiosity combined with his omnipotence compels him to treat humanity as pawns. Whether or not the MCU can pull off this type of character is yet to be seen, but we will likely soon see if they can.
5 Molecule Man
Owen Reece was a timid scientist who, during an experiment, accidentally exposed himself to the power of the Beyonders. Now with the ability to manipulate reality, Reece took on the persona of the Molecule Man to get back at those who had belittled him for so long. However, he didn’t realize the full scope of his power until much later.
Due to his timidity, he subconsciously limited his own powers. Over the years and after several confrontations with the Beyonder himself, Owen realized that his power was nearly unlimited, but during the event Secret Wars, Doctor Doom took advantage of this and forced Molecule Man to create his own version of Battleworld.
Molecule Man Has Gotten the Short End of the Stick For Far too Long
All the power of the Beyonder with none of the confidence, Molecule Man was, for a long time, one of Marvel’s biggest joke villains before getting his canon upgrade. Able to manipulate reality on a molecular level, Owen Reece has proven time and again that he is one of Marvel’s most powerful characters, but he rarely flaunts that power.
In fact, in recent years, he has taken on new roles, especially after Doctor Doom manipulated him in Secret Wars. With the MCU’s talent at bringing out the depth of its villainous characters, Owen Reece greatly deserves the opportunity to make his mark on live action.
4 Doctor Doom
Victor Von Doom, a.k.a. Doctor Doom, made his debut in 1962’s The Fantastic Four #5. Victor grew up in a small Romani tribe living in the Eastern European country of Latveria. After his mother died by Mephisto’s hand and his father died due to the anger of Latveria’s Baron, Victor moved to America for college, but after an experiment gone wrong, Doom was left horribly scarred, donning a traditional Latverian mask to hide his disfigurement.
Doom turned to villainy to strike back at those he felt wronged him, turning to science and sorcery to take the Latverian throne, battle Mephisto for his mother’s soul, and ruin the life of Reed Richards.
Doctor Doom Deserves a Better Shot at the Big Screen
Based on his prior appearances in the various Fantastic Four adaptations, it may seem strange to consider Doom as one of Marvel’s most powerful villains, but the comics give the character a lot more depth. Doom is a genius scientist and a master sorcerer, putting him at odds with every major corner of the Marvel universe.
On a number of occasions, he has even wielded the Beyonder’s power, but unlike the childlike cosmic being and the unconfident Molecule Man, Doom had the mind, power, and arrogance to change the world in his image. Doom is one of Marvel’s most iconic villains, so it is endlessly surprising that he hasn’t made it to the big screen.
3 Annihilus
In the space between dimensions lies the Negative Zone, an antimatter universe that plays host to the Annihilation Wave. A conglomerate of various species from across the Negative Zone, the Annihilation Wave is an invading force that has destroyed entire galaxies throughout Earth-616’s universe.
Leading this wave is Annihilus, a humanoid insect ruler obsessed with extending his own lifespan. Using the Cosmic Control Rod and the Opposing Force, Annihilus has constantly threatened the universe with invasion after invasion, seeking to conquer the positive matter universe and take hold of the Power Cosmic.
Annihilus Could be a Threat Greater than Thanos
As the ruler of the Annihilation Wave, Annihilus is by far one of the most powerful cosmic villains in the entire multiverse, putting him on equal footing with Thanos. Of course, the last time Marvel brought the Negative Zone to life (2015’s Fantastic Four), it didn’t go so well, so it makes sense that the Studio would be hesitant to explore this extradimensional space.
However, the potential is still there, and with the upcoming reveal of the MCU Fantastic Four’s cast, hopes are high that Annihilus might get a chance at the big screen. Maybe the day is coming that we finally get a dedicated adaptation of the cosmic crossover event Annihilation.
2 Galactus
Galactus has plagued the Marvel Universe almost since the beginning, first starring in Fantastic Four #48 in 1965. Once a mortal named Galan, Galactus gained the Power Cosmic after the destruction and rebirth of the cosmos. With an insatiable hunger, the giant, purple-armored colossus became the devourer of worlds, feeding on the life energy of planets as he travels the universe.
Using the Power Cosmic, Galactus grants immeasurable power to various beings that he encounters, transforming them into Heralds meant to scout out his next meal. He then follows in their wake, leaving nothing behind but an empty husk.
Galactus is One of Marvel’s Most Iconic Characters
Yes, Galactus had to be on this list. He is the be-all-end-all (emphasis on “End”) of cosmic baddies. Sadly, his utilization in pre-MCU films has left many viewers with a bad taste in their mouths, leaving the character’s MCU future up in the air. With that said, given the arrival of the Celestials in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the door is open for characters related to them, and Galactus wholly deserves the spotlight in the MCU’s future.
He is one of the most iconic villains in all of Marvel’s stories, a literal and pop culture giant, and Marvel Studios would only be making a mistake by omitting the character from the Cinematic Universe.
